Kevin Durant Explodes for 38, as Thunder down Nuggets in 4th, 115-113.

The Denver Nuggets were exposed by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the fourth as the Thunder came away with the win, 115-113. Kevin Durant torched Denver as he scored 38 points, leading OKC in a fourth quarter comeback win at Chesapeake Energy Area.

Russell Westbrook started the game with a back-door layup on Randy Foye to give the Thunder the early advantage. Denver however, would answer back as Wilson Chandler made a jumper, and a steal led to a Ty Lawson layup. After an empty possession from the Thunder, Wilson Chandler continued his hot start as he connected for three, giving Denver an early 7-2 lead.

Kevin Durant being Kevin Durant faked out Wilson Chandler by going back-door as he finished with the slam. Randy Foye provided the Nuggets with a deep-threat option as he answered Durant’s basket with a three of his own. Durant would keep scoring for OKC as he made 1-of-2 from the line, and a step-back jumper. Faried and Foye on back-to-back possessions each scored as Denver took the 17-9 lead forcing a Thunder timeout.

Nuggets would keep putting the pressure on as Jordan Hamilton came off the bench hitting a three-pointer, putting Denver up 32-23. Two possessions later, Hamilton would be fouled as he completed the and-one. Darrell Arthur would knock down a mid-range jump shot giving Denver the 39-28 lead at the end of one. Denver would wind up shooting 16-of-27, 59.3%.

Jeremy Lamb came off the bench starting the 2nd quarter off with a layup. Oklahoma City went on a 10-2 run sparked by Jeremy Lamb and Derek Fisher, as they both connected with back-to-back three’s, trailing Denver 41-38.

Denver would quickly answer OKC’s run, as Nate Robinson came off of the bench hot; shooting 3-3 adding 7 points as Denver went on a 7-0 run. OKC wasn’t fazed as Westbrook led them back into the game scoring eight points to end the quarter, as OKC trailed Denver at halftime 63-60.

Kevin Durant would get things going in the 3rd quarter for the Oklahoma City Thunder as he scored off of a floater. Wilson Chandler quickly answered Durant’s basket with a face-up jump shot. On Denver’s next possession, Randy Foye hit a three pointer, as the Nuggets were 6-of-11 from three at that point.

The Nuggets scored on three straight possessions as Lawson, Foye, and Faried sparked a 12-4 Denver run. Evan Fournier came off the bench hot at the end of the 3rd quarter, as he scored seven points ending the quarter as the Nuggets led 92-83. Denver also had 23 points off of turnovers heading into the fourth; OKC had 7.

This quarter would be all Oklahoma City Thunder. Russell Westbrook sparked an early 7-0 OKC run as they trailed the Nuggets by five. Durant was eating the Nuggets for dinner, as he hit a three-pointer that gave the Thunder the lead, 108-105. Denver was woeful from the line, as they finished the game 25-43, (58.1%) as that gave the Thunder a chance to take the lead.

Thunder and Nuggets traded baskets back-and-fourth as Lawson hit two free throws to trail OKC by one. Derek Fisher was fouled and knocked both down as Ty Lawson was fouled by Russell Westbrook on the next possession. He only went 1-of-2 from the line as free throws killed Denver mightily. The ball however, was last touched by Thunder forward Nick Collison and the Nuggets had one last chance.

They had a designed play run thru Timofey Mozgov where he was standing under the hoop, and the pass was airmailed. J.J. Hickson picked it up at the top of the key and clanked it off of the backboard. Oklahoma City outscored Denver 32-21 in the fourth to capture the win, 115-113.

Ty Lawson with another all-star performance as he finished with 29 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists.
J.J. Hickson was a big part of the Nuggets success early on as he tallied 18 points, along with 19 rebounds.
This win proved the Nuggets can compete with the best without Gallinari and McGee; they just need to improve at the line where they shot 58.1%.

What’s Up Next: The Denver Nuggets (4-6) will host the Chicago Bulls (6-3) Thursday Night on TNT. Tip-off at 8:30.